Coating bead modulation and recording thereby

ABSTRACT

Thickness variations in the optical coating on a web may be employed for control, playback, and other purposes. Coating thickness variations are produced by vibrating the coating bead. A photographic web is produced by vibrating the bead formed between an emulsion coating hopper and a web base, thereby to provide a light-sensitive web having record data manufactured therein.

United States Patent Danielson et al.

[451 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] COATING BEAD MODULATION AND RECORDING THEREBY [72] Inventors: Arthur Daniel Danielson; Lyle Charles Klier, both of Rochester, N.Y.; John D. O-

Brien, Guadalajara, .lalisco, Mexico [73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,

22 Filed: on. 16,1969

211 Appl.No.: 867,030

[52] US. Cl. ..96/67, 1 17/34, 1 17/41 [51] Int. Cl ..G03c 1/00 [58] Field ofSeareh.... ..96/67; 117/34, 37,41,934 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,952,559 9/1960 Nadeau ..117/93.4

3,077,398 2/ 1963 Jones ..1 17/34 3,108,893 10/1963 Oliphant... ...1l7/93.4 A 3,181,172 4/1965 Boblett..... ..117/34 3,200,280 8/1965 Thau et 117/41 3,310,403 3/1967 Bryan ....96/67 3,462,286 8/1969 De Geest et a1. ..117/34 Primary Examiner-John T. Goolkasian Assistant ExaminerGeorge W. Moxon, l1 Attorney-Walter O. Hodsdon and Robert F. Cody [57] ABSTRACT Thickness variations in the optical coating on a web may be empIoyed for control, playback, and other purposes. Coating thickness variations are produced by vibrating the coating bead. A photographic web is produced by vibrating the bead formed between an emulsion coating hopper and a web base, thereby to provide a light-sensitive web having record data manufactured therein.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Brandsma et al. ..1 17/34 PATENTEDFEB29 m2 Mg m m o M T 50W I M am m COATING HEAD MODULATION AND RECOING THEREBY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to coated webs with data manufactured therein. In particular, the invention provides for the recording, for example, of certain audio information into a photographic product during manufacture of such product.

2. Description Relative to the Prior Art A certain photographic product, after exposure and processing, developed crosslines which occurred at a certain number per unit length of product. In an attempt to'determine the source of the crosslines, the exposed product was run through a tape recorder (optical pickup) at approximately the same speed at which the product was manufactured. And, lo, the recorder indicated the rattling of metal cans. An examination of the emulsion coating operation turned up the metal cans in question, their rattling having caused the bead of emulsion at the coating hopper to deposit more or less emulsion in tune with the frequency of the rattling.

It is usual to take great pains to assure that the emulsion coating of a photographic product is uniform, the coatingbead being nonvibratory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a procedure which is in direct contrast with known prior art practices, viz the intentional selective vibration of a coating bead while applying an optical coating to a web. Such vibrations cause the coating bead to deposit the coating depthwise in tune with such vibrations.

While the technique in question may be employed in numerous ways, and for numerous purposes, the following will serve to emphasize the various uses to which the invention may be put:

A. A special-purpose motion picture film is emulsion coated by a hopper, the coating head of which is vibrated in accordance with some variable frequency background audio which is to be impressed in the film. The film is exposed in the usual way, and then developed. Variations in emulsion thickness appear as visible crosslines on the developed film; but on being projected through a projector, the lines occurring at varying frequencies are not apparent on the projection screen. The projector is equipped with a photopickup, the output of which is applied to a speaker for playback of the background audio. (This technique assumes that frequency correction is not necessary to compensate for different coating and playback speeds.)

B. The emulsion coating bead, formed by a hopper that is used in the manufacture of a motion picture film product, is periodically vibrated (say, at 50 feet increments of product) at a predetermined frequency. Coating thickness variations so produced cause periodic visible grids in the film after such film is exposed and processed. The grids are employed for control of a motion picture projector. The projector is equipped with a photopickup adapted to look for the grids. A filter circuit, tuned to the frequency at which the grid lines pass the photopickup, operates a relay; and the relay actuates, say, the forwardfeed switch for the projector. Thus, after the film is viewed, the projector is automatically turned off by the film it was showing.

Other uses to which the invention may be put are: (1) control of a coated web during its manufacture and handling; (2) the recording of coded data; etc. The invention is not limited to photographic coatings, but is more broadly concerned with optical coatings, viz coatings which influence light falling upon them in proportion to coating thickness. An example of an optical coating which is within the purview of the invention is a dyed gel which is coated on a web; and which gel transmits light as a function of coating thickness.

An object of the invention is to provide a new kind of product especially one that is photographic in nature and a way to make such product.

The invention will be described with reference to the figures, wherein FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, like that indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,952,559, illustrating the practice of the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a motion picture projector, and is useful to illustrate some of the features provided by means of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a photographic film base web 10 is fed over an idler roller 12, past a coating hopper 14, by means of a feed roller 14. The hopper 14 presents a bead 20 of photographic emulsion to the film base web 10 for purposes of emulsion coating the web. A signal generator 22 cooperates with a speaker 23; and the speaker 23 directs its output energy .to the coating bead 20. The signal generator 22 may be selectively turned on by means of a switch 24. Vibration of the coating head 20 by means of the signal generator 22-speaker 23 causes thickness variations 26 in the emulsion 28 coated on the web 10. The frequency, amplitude, periodicity, etc, of such thickness variations depend on the form and operation of the signal generator 22 and its switch 24, a matter to be decided by those in the art, and which decision will depend for example on the use to which the coated web will be put: In other words, a motor-operated cam may be employed to close periodically the switch 24 to apply continuous wave (CW) variations to the hopper bead 20 (control recording); or the switch 14 may be manually closed to apply continuously the modulation of a sound recording to the hopper bead 20 (background recording); etc.

As indicated above, processing the product manufactured as in FIG. 1 causes the thickened emulsion coating optically to contrast with the thinned emulsion coating.

The projector of FIG. 2 is adapted to accommodate film 30 manufactured with both control and background recordings. The film 30 is moved past a film gate (not shown) by means of a motor 32. Light is shined from a lamp 34 through the film 30 in the gate; and the lamp 34 and motor 32 are energized by means of a power supply 38. A beam splitter 40 passes light, exiting from the film 30, to a projection lens 42 for imaging purposes; and such beam splitter 40 passes some of the exiting light to a photodetector circuit 44. The output of the photodetector circuit 44 is amplified (46), the background frequencies which were recorded in the film during manufacture thereof being filtered (48) out for application to a speaker 50. Occurrence (say, at the end of the film being projected) of a discrete CW frequency causes a filter circuit 52 to produce a discrete signal output, thereby to actuate a relay 54 for removing power from the lamp 34 and motor 32.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

I. The method of making a web having an optical coating thereon, comprising the steps of:

a. conveying an uncoated web past a hopper for applying a head of coating material to said web,

b. selectively moving, by vibrating by sound energy, at one or more predetermined sound frequencies, the coating bead, thereby to impart dimensional variations to the thickness of the said coating.

2. A photographic web made by the process of:

a. applying, by means of a hopper having a coating bead, a

light-sensitive emulsion coating to a web, and

b. while applying said light-sensitive coating to said web, periodically varying the coating bead by sound energy, at one or more sound frequencies, to vary the thickness of said light-sensitive emulsion coating along the length of said web. 

2. A photographic web made by the process of: a. applying, by means of a hopper having a coating bead, a light-sensitive emulsion coating to a web, and b. while applying said light-sensitive coating to said web, periodically varying the coating bead by sound energy, at one or more sound frequencies, to vary the thickness of said light-sensitive emulsion coating along the length of said web. 